# Latter Day Saint movement

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The Latter Day Saint movement (also called the LDS movement, LDS restorationist movement, or Smith–Rigdon movement) is the collection of independent church groups that trace their origins to a Christian Restorationist movement founded by Joseph Smith in the late 1820s.
Collectively, these churches have over 17 million nominal members, including over 17 million belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), 250,000 in Community of Christ, and several other denominations with memberships generally ranging in the thousands of members. The predominant theology of the churches in the movement is Mormonism, which sees itself as restoring again on Earth the early Christian church; their members are most commonly known as Mormons. An additional doctrine of the church allows for prophets to receive and publish modern-day revelations.
A minority of Latter Day Saint adherents, such as members of Community of Christ, have been influenced by Protestant theologies while maintaining certain distinctive beliefs and practices including continuing revelation, an open canon of scripture and building temples. Other groups include the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which supports lineal succession of leadership from Smith's descendants, and the more controversial Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which defends the practice of polygamy. One source estimated over 400 denominations have sprung from founder Joseph Smith's original movement.

## Origins

The movement began in western New York during the Second Great Awakening when Smith said that he received visions revealing a new sacred text, the Book of Mormon, which he published in 1830 as a complement to the Bible. Based on the teachings of this book and other revelations, Smith founded a Christian primitivist church, called the "Church of Christ". The Book of Mormon attracted hundreds of early followers, who later became known as "Mormons", "Latter Day Saints", or just "Saints". In 1831, Smith moved the church headquarters to Kirtland, Ohio, and in 1838 changed its name to the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints".
After the church in Ohio collapsed due to a financial crisis and dissensions, in 1838, Smith and the body of the church moved to Missouri. However, they were persecuted and the Latter Day Saints fled to Illinois. After Smith was killed in 1844, a succession crisis led to the organization splitting into several groups. The largest of these, the LDS Church, migrated under the leadership of Brigham Young to the Great Basin (now Utah) and became known for its 19th-century practice of polygamy. The LDS Church officially renounced this practice in 1890 and gradually discontinued it, resulting in Utah Territory becoming a U.S. state. This change resulted in the formation of several small sects that sought to maintain polygamy and other 19th-century doctrines and practices, now referred to as "Mormon fundamentalism".
Other groups originating within the Latter Day Saint movement followed different paths in Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. For the most part, these groups rejected plural marriage and some of Smith's later teachings. The largest of these, Community of Christ (known previously as the "Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints"), was formed in Illinois in 1860 by several groups uniting around Smith's son, Joseph Smith III.

## History

The founder of the Latter Day Saint movement was Joseph Smith, and to a lesser extent, during the movement's first two years, Oliver Cowdery. Throughout his life, Smith told of an experience he had as a boy having seen God the Father and Jesus Christ as two separate beings, who told him that the true church of Jesus Christ had been lost and would be restored through him, and that he would be given the authority to organize and lead the true Church of Christ.
The Latter Day Saint church was formed on April 6, 1830, consisting of a community of believers in the western New York towns of Fayette, Manchester, and Colesville. The church was formally organized under the name of the "Church of Christ". By 1834, the church was referred to as the "Church of the Latter Day Saints" in early church publications, and in 1838 Smith announced that he had received a revelation from God that officially changed the name to the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints".
In 1844, William Law and several other Latter Day Saints in church leadership positions publicly denounced Smith's secret practice of polygamy in the Nauvoo Expositor, and formed their own church. The city council of Nauvoo, Illinois, led by Smith, subsequently had the printing press of the Expositor destroyed. In spite of Smith's later offer to pay damages for destroyed property, critics of Smith and the church considered the destruction heavy-handed. Some called for the Latter Day Saints to be either expelled or destroyed.
Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, the Assistant President of the Church, were both killed by a mob while in a Carthage, Illinois jail, and several individuals within the church claimed to be the senior surviving authority and appointed successors. These various claims resulted in a succession crisis. Many supported Brigham Young, the president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; others Sidney Rigdon, the senior surviving member of the First Presidency. Emma Hale Smith failed to persuade William Marks, the president of the Presiding High Council and a Rigdon supporter, to assume leadership and the surviving members of Smith's immediate family remained unaffiliated with any larger body until 1860, when they formed the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with Joseph's eldest son Joseph Smith III as prophet. These various groups are sometimes referred to under two geographical headings: "Prairie Saints" (those that remained in the Midwest United States); and "Rocky Mountain Saints" (those who followed Young to what would later become the state of Utah).
Today, the vast majority (over 98 percent) of Latter Day Saints belong to the LDS Church, which reports over 16 million members worldwide. The second-largest denomination is the Missouri-based Community of Christ, which reports 252,000 members. Small denominations that trace their origins to Rigdon, James Strang, or other associates of Smith's still exist, and several fundamentalist sects which separated from the LDS Church after it rejected plural marriage in 1890 claim tens of thousands of members.

## Beliefs

Most members of Latter Day Saint churches are adherents to Mormonism, a theology based on Joseph Smith's later teachings and further developed by Brigham Young, James Strang and others who claimed to be Smith's successors. The term Mormon derives from the Book of Mormon, and most of these adherents refer to themselves as Latter Day Saints or Mormons. Mormonism and Christianity have a complex theological, historical, and sociological relationship. Mormons express the doctrines of Mormonism using standard biblical terminology, and claim to have similar views about the nature of Jesus' atonement, resurrection, and Second Coming as traditional Christianity. Nevertheless, Mormons agree with non-Mormons that their view of God is significantly different from the trinitarian view of the Nicene Creed of the 4th century.
Mormons consider the Bible as scripture and have also adopted additional scriptures. These include the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price, although not all denominations use all books as part of their scriptures. Mormons not only practice baptism and celebrate the eucharist but also participate in religious rituals not practiced in traditional Christianity. Focusing on differences, some Christians consider Mormonism "non-Christian"; members of the LDS Church, focusing on similarities, are offended at being so characterized. Mormons do not accept non-Mormon baptism. Mormons regularly proselytize individuals actually or nominally within the Christian tradition, and some Christians, especially evangelicals, proselytize Mormons. The LDS Church has a formal missionary program with nearly 70,000 missionaries, with 15 training centers and 407 missions worldwide. A prominent scholarly view is that Mormonism is a form of Christianity, but is distinct enough from traditional Christianity so as to form a new religious tradition, much as Christianity has roots in but is a distinct religion from Judaism.
The Mormonism that originated with Smith in the 1820s shared strong similarities with some elements of 19th-century Protestant Christianity including the necessity of baptism, emphasis on family, and central doctrine on Christ as a means to salvation. However, beginning with his accounts of the First Vision in the 1830s and 1840s, Smith—who said that Christ had told him not to join any existing church—departed significantly from traditional Christianity, claiming all churches of his day were part of a Great Apostasy that had lost the authority to direct Christ's church. Mormonism does not characterize itself as a Protestant religion, as Smith taught that he had received revelation direct from Christ to restore his original church. Mormons believe that God, through Smith and his successors, restored these truths and doctrinal clarifications, and, initiating a new heavenly dispensation, restored the original church and Christianity taught by Jesus. For example, Smith rejected the Nicene doctrine of the Trinity as of one body and substance, with no "body, parts, or passions", and instead taught that the Godhead included God, the Eternal Father, also known as Elohim; his only-begotten son in the flesh, Jesus Christ, also known as Jehovah, the savior and redeemer of the world; and the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit, an individual personage of spirit whose influence can be felt in many places at once. Further, Smith taught that the essence of all humans is co-eternal with God and that humans, as the spirit offspring of God the Father, have the potential to become like God. The LDS Church, the largest Mormon denomination, while acknowledging its differences with mainstream Christianity, often focuses on its commonalities, which are many, the most important of which is that Christ is the savior of the world and that he suffered for the world's sins so that the penitent can return to live in heaven.
A small fraction of Latter Day Saints, most notably those within Community of Christ, the second largest Latter Day Saint denomination, follow a traditional Protestant theology. Community of Christ views God in trinitarian terms, and reject the distinctive theological developments they believe to have been developed later in Mormonism.

### Saint-designation of members

The beliefs within the LDS Church with regard to saints are similar but not quite the same as the Protestant tradition. In the New Testament, saints are all those who have entered into the Christian covenant of baptism. The qualification "latter-day" refers to the doctrine that members are living in the "latter days", before the Second Coming of Christ, and is used to distinguish the members of the church, which considers itself the restoration of the ancient Christian church. Members are therefore often referred to as "Latter-day Saints" or "LDS", and among themselves, "saints".

### Restoration

The Latter Day Saint movement classifies itself within Christianity, but as a distinct restored dispensation. Latter Day Saints hold that a Great Apostasy began in Christianity not long after the ascension of Jesus, marked with the corruption of Christian doctrine by Greek and other philosophies, and followers dividing into different ideological groups. Additionally, Latter Day Saints claim the martyrdom of the apostles led to a loss of priesthood authority to administer the church and its ordinances.
According to Latter Day Saint churches, God re-established the early Christian church as found in the New Testament through Joseph Smith. In particular, Latter Day Saints believe that angels such as Peter, James, John, and John the Baptist appeared to Smith and others and bestowed various priesthood authorities on them. Thus, Smith and his successors are considered modern prophets who receive revelation from God to guide the church.

## Denominations

vteCurrent denominations or sub-groups in the Latter Day Saint movement :
— (I.) Major two  —        
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  17.0 million (2022), about 98–99% of Latter Day Saint movement – Utah-basedRussell M. Nelson presided 2018–presentThomas S. Monson presided 2008–2018John Taylor presided 1877–1887Brigham Young presided 1844–1877
Joseph Smith Jr. presided 1830–1844
Community of Christ  252,000 (2019), about 1–2% of Latter Day Saint movement – Missouri-basedSteven M. Veazey presided 2005–presentWallace B. Smith presided 1978–1966Joseph Smith III presided 1860–1914
— (II.) With membership in the thousands  —
The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)  19,029 members (Dec. 31, 2012) – Pennsylvania-basedJoel Gehly presided 2018–presentWilliam Bickerton presided 1862–1880Sidney Rigdon presided 1844–1847
Church of Christ With the Elijah Message  over 12,000 members (1998) – Missouri-basedWilliam Draves presided 1943–1994
Apostolic United Brethren  approximately 10,000 members (1998)– Utah-basedMormon fundamentalism John Woolley / Lorin Woolley Council of Friends (Short Creek Community) presided 1918–1928 / 1928–1934
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints  approximately 10,000 members (2011) – Utah-based
vteSee fundamentalist denominations in addition to the pair above.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Kingdom of God Organized by:Frank Naylor and Ivan Neilsen – approx. 250Centennial Park> Organized by: Marion Hammon and Alma Timpson – approx. 1,500 membersFLDS church schismsWoolley schisms
Church of Jesus Christ (Original Doctrine) Inc. Organized by: Winston Blackmore – approx. 700 members
Church of the Lamb of God Organized by: Ervil LeBaron – Current status unknownChurch of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times Organized by: Joel F. LeBaron – Several hundred adherentsAUB schisms
Righteous Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Organized by: Gerald Peterson, Sr. – approx. 100 members
Church of Jesus Christ in Solemn Assembly Organized by: Alex Joseph
Church of the New Covenant in Christ Organized by: John W. Bryant
Latter Day Church of Christ Organized by: Elden Kingston – approx. 2,000 members
School of the Prophets Organized by: Robert C. CrossfieldLDS Church schisms (Non-Woolley)
True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days Organized by: James D. Harmston – approx. 400 members
The Church of the Firstborn and the General Assembly of Heaven Organized by: Terrill R. Dalton
Restoration branches movement which have created the Joint Conference of Restoration Branches  6,000–7,000 members (2010) – Missouri-based
vteSee Restoration branches movement groupings in addition to one above.
Smaller, founded in the 20th century 
Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Organized by: Frederick Niels Larsen– 1,000–2,000 members
Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Organized by: Several RLDS entities– 8 congregations
Minuscule, founded in the 20th century 
Church of Jesus Christ (Toneyite) Organized by: Forrest Toney
Church of Jesus Christ Restored 1830 Organized by: Nolan W. Glauner
Church of Christ Organized by: David B. Clark
Church of Jesus Christ (Zion's Branch) Organized by: David B. Clark
Fellowships of the Remnant About 5,000–10,000 participants (2017). Organized 2013 worldwide by adherents of a self-subscribed neo-LDS fundamentalist and neo-"Reorganized Latter Day Saint" and Reorganization-like Restorationism revealed through Denver Snuffer (excommunicated from LDS Church under Monson)
Church of Christ (Fettingite)  2,000 members (1988); Missouri-basedOtto Fetting presided 1927–1933
Church of Christ (Temple Lot)  7,310 members (2013) – Missouri-basedGranville Hedrick presided 1863–1881
vteSee Temple Lot – derived denominations in addition to pair above.
Church of Christ (Leighton-Floyd/Burt) Organized by: Howard Leighton-Floyd and H. H. Burt approx. 35 membersWilliam Draves presided 1943–1994 Church of Christ with the Elijah Message schismsOtto Fetting presided 1927–1933 Church of Christ (Fettingite) schismsGranville Hedrick presided 1863–1881 Church of Christ (Temple Lot) schisms
Church of Christ with the Elijah Message (The Assured Way of the Lord) Organized by:Leonard DravesChurch of Christ (Restored) Organized by: A. C. DeWolf approx. 450 members
Church of Israel Organized by:Dan GaymanChurch of Christ at Halley's Bluff Organized by: Thomas B. Nerren and E. E. Long less than 100 members
↑ While not considered a schism of the Church of Christ (Fettingite) and its founder Otto Fetting, the Church of Christ at Halley's Bluff accepted Fetting's revelations, but it did not immediately break with the Fettingites in 1929. Nerren and Long instead formed a separate sect in 1932, which was later joined by five other former Temple Lot congregations by 1941.
— (III.) Minuscule, founded in the 19th century  —
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite)  300 members (1998) – Wisconsin-basedJames Strang presided 1844–1856
Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite)  "one branch" (as of 2023) – Missouri-basedAlpheus Cutler presided 1853–1864
    $_*$^  Membership worldwide; generally church-reported; with an occasional exception     $^†$^ Once larger
↑ Organized the Church of Christ, the Latter Day Saint movement's original organization, of which multiple denominations currently believe themselves the true successor
↑ See Rigdonite.
↑ Members consider themselves as remaining adherents of the (historical) Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (As of 2011, litigation by the Community of Christ against Restoration Branch individuals and entities generally established CofC's right to both the full and abbreviated RLDS name.) :